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On this 11th day
of January 1834, personally appeared before us Nicolas Parkins[?], Gilbert
Marshall, and John Hughes Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions held at Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee. John McBride, a
resident of said county, age 82 years who being first duly sworn according
to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
That he enlisted under the following named officers and served as herein
stated:
Ans to Question 1st: I was born in Pennsylvania, Bucks County in the year
1752.
Ans to Question 2nd: I have a record of my age in my bible at home.
Ans to Question 3rd: I was living in North Carolina, Orange County, when
called into the service. I left there some where about the year 1784 or 6
and settled in South Carolina, York District, where I remained until some
where about the year 1802 when I left there and settled in East Tennessee
where I remained until 1806 or 7. I then removed to Maury County, Tennessee
where I remained till 1826 when I removed to Giles County, Tennessee and
remained there until about three weeks ago. I moved to this county,
Williamson, of course.
Ans to 4 Question: I volunteered in all my tours.
Ans to 5 Question: I recollect names of no officers who were with the troops
where I served. I shall mention names in a statement of the general
circumstances of my service. I first entered as a Sergeant under Captain
Nathaniel Christmas. We rendezvoused at Hillsborough and marched from thence
against the Tories in Chatham County. They retreated down to Deep River
where we had a battle and our Lieutenant Robert Christmas, brother to the
Captain, was wounded. We lay encamped here some time and I apportioned the
provisions among the soldiers as First Sergeant. This tour lasted three
months. Nothing further of importance occurred to my recollection on this
tour.
I entered under Captain Little in my second tour and was stationed at
Hillsborough to guard the prisoners and while in this duty the British
having come in these parts under Cornwallis it was thought necessary that
the prisoners should be removed to Halifax about 110 miles, and eighteen
other men and myself did guard them to that place. This tour lasted three
months.
My third tour was under Captain Allen whose company was attached to Colonel
or General Butler’s regiment. This expedition was generally against
deserters and Tories which very much infested the surrounding country. This
tour also lasted three months.
My fourth and last tour was under Colonel Mal Madoe a French officer. Our
Captain was Samson. As I was taking some horses into Virginia I was pressed
into the service under him about 50 miles from Virginia. I do not recollect
what county. He was on his march down towards Cross Creek. We were marched
on down by Cape Fear to Wilmington and during the march we came within
eighteen miles of my father’s and I got a furlough by leaving my horses in
honor and went to see my father. I stayed but a few days and returned to the
army which marched on toward Guilford and before we arrived there we heard
the cannon of the battle. I entered this tour at least two months before
this battle which was on the 14th or 15th of March 1781 and continued until
the surrender of Cornwallis which was on the 19th October 1781, which would
make this tour at least nine months which I served which makes in all
eighteen months service which I rendered my country.
Ans to 6th Question: I received a discharge from all four of my tours signed
by my Captains on all of them but in my last I think the Colonel signed.
That they were some of them sold for trifles and the others lost.
Ans to Question 7th: As I have been but about three weeks in this county I
have but a few acquaintances here and slightly known to them. I’m acquainted
with no preacher in this county. I am acquainted with one in Maury County,
where I formerly lived whose deposition together with Mr. Mitchel’s, I wish
to provide before this declaration is forwarded. The preacher’s name is
Joseph Paton.
I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity whatever, except the
present and declare my name is not on the Pension Roll of any agency in any
state.
[signed] John McBride X his mark
Sworn to in open court 11 January 1834. [signed] Thos Hardimon, clerk
I, Andrew R. McBride[?], certify that I am well acquainted with John McBride
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that I believe him to
be 82 years of age; that he was reputed and believed in neighborhoods where
he has resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution. That he has been
residing in his present neighborhood only about three weeks and so far as he
is known there he is reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the
Revolution. I have no personal knowledge of his service but I have heard him
during the space of 20 years frequently telling over and over a statement of
his services not differing in any respect from the present declaration and I
believe him to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that he served as
herein stated.
Sworn to in open court
11 January 1834
[signed] Thos Hardimon, clerk; A. R. McBride[?]
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